76 
A VOYAGE TO 
1779, go away in fafety. He fliewed us he did not want grati- 
tnde, as he frequently afterward returned with prefents of 
provifions ; and alfo did us other fervices. 
Soon after the village was deftroyed, we faw, coming 
down the hill, a man, attended by fifteen or twenty 
boys, holding pieces of white cloth, green boughs, plan¬ 
tains, &c. in their hands. I know not how it happened, 
that this peaceful embafly, as foon as they were within 
reach, received the fire of a party of our men. This, 
however, did not flop them. They continued their pro- 
ceffion, and the officer on duty came up, in time, to pre¬ 
vent a fecond difcharge. As they approached nearer, it 
was found to be our much-efleemed friend Kaireekeea, 
who had fled on our firfl fetting fire to the village, and 
had now returned, and defired to be fent on board the 
Refolution. 
When he arrived, we found him exceedingly grave and 
thoughtful. We endeavoured to make him underfland the 
neceffity we were under of fetting fire to the village, by 
which his houfe, and thofe of his brethren, were uninten¬ 
tionally confirmed. He expoflulated a little with us on ©ur 
want of friendfhip, and on our ingratitude. And, indeed, 
it was not till now, that we learnt the whole extent of the 
injury we had done them. He told us, that, relying on the 
promifes I had made them, and on the afiurances they had 
afterward received from the men, who had brought us the 
remains of Captain Cook, they had not removed their ef¬ 
fects back into the country, with the reft of the inhabitants, 
but had put every thing that was valuable of their own, as 
well as what they had collected from us, into a houfe clofe 
to the Moral , where they had the mortification to fee it all 
fet on fire by ourfelves. 
On 
